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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today announced that the Cumberland County Improvement Authority (CCIA) has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for construction of a Food Industry Commercialization Center adjacent to the Rutgers Food Innovation Center in Bridgeton. It is expected that 190 jobs will be created.

“Capitalizing on our region’s natural strengths and the success of the Rutgers Food Innovation Center, the development of a Food Commercialization Center in Bridgeton will create local jobs, encourage additional private investment and grow the local economy,” said LoBiondo. “I am pleased to have worked with the EDA to secure this $2.5 million grant for its construction and will continue to strongly support the growth of South Jersey’s agricultural and food processing businesses.”

This EDA investment will assist in the construction of a new Food Industry Commercialization Center that provides needed flexible spaces for new food production companies to leverage technical assistance resources. The new multi-tenant facility will be 27,000+ square feet and will offer flex spaces for companies needing space for industrial food processing, shipping and administrative use. Completion of the project will provide regional capacity to grow and retain the food production cluster, foster job creation and leverage private investment. The total cost of the project is $9.2 million.

In June 2016, LoBiondo sent a letter of support to the Regional Director of the U.S. Economic Development Administration in support of the Cumberland County Improvement Authority’s application.

More information about EDA’s competitive grant process can be found at www.eda.gov.